FORMICIDiG. 



tenoae 13-jointed ; their abdomen composed of seven segments, 

 not furnished with a sting. Males, females and workers having 

 four wings, which are always traversed by nervures, forming cells. 

 Larva apodal ; fed by the workers in social species, and upon 

 food stored up by the female in solitary ones. Some of the 

 solitary species parasitic. 



Fam. 1. Formicidse, Leach. 



(Social Ants.) 



This family consists of the various species of Ants, with the 

 number of which we are probably but slightly acquainted, 

 although we have recorded 690 species. The metropolis of the 

 group undoubtedly lies in the tropics ; and when we reflect upon 

 the observation of Mr. Bates, who has collected for some years in 

 Brazil — " I think," says that observant naturalist, " the num- 

 ber in the valley of the Amazons alone cannot be less than 400 

 species " — if this prove to be the case, how limited must our 

 present knowledge of the group be ! The imagination is unable 

 even to guess at the probable amount of species, when we re- 

 member that Mr. Bates is speaking of a single valley in Brazil ; 

 and were the vast expanse of South America, North America, 

 Africa, Australia and its adjacent islands, India, and the other 

 parts of Asia, searched by diligent naturalists, there can be little 

 doubt that the Formicidce would equal in number, if not exceed, 

 that of any other tribe of insects. 



The economy of the Ants, imperfectly as it is now recorded, 

 has furnished some of the most interesting and wonderful histo- 

 ries to be met with in the natural history of insects. The in- 

 dustry of the ant is a household proverb : when their habita- 

 tions are by any means injured or destroyed, no time is lost in 

 useless despair — one spirit animates each individual — simulta- 

 neously they set to work to repair their misfortune — unceasingly 

 they labour — nothing damps their ardour or abates their in- 

 dustry — until, as if by a magic hand, their habitation again rises 

 to its former height and beauty, and all trace of ruin has disap- 

 peared. 



It is not our province here to enter upon the wide field of 

 economy as displayed in the exotic species of ants ; but it appears 

 necessary to mention one or two particular accounts, in order to 

 _'ive some faint idea of the important part which these creatures 

 perform in the great scheme of nature. We may mention the 

 •• Driver or Visiting Ants of Africa : " these ants march in vast 



